Automobile running-gear.



PATENTED 111mm, 1908.

G. T. PRATT.

QN'O'. 878,156.

AUTOMOBILE RUN NING GEAR.

. APPLmATIoN FILED Ammo. 1907.

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No. 878,156.- RATRNTRD RRR. A, 190s* c.- T. PRATT. AUTOMOBILE RUNNINGGEAR.

APPLICATION FILED APB.. 10. 1907.

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AUTOMOBILE RUNNING GEAR.

APPLICATION PILED-APR. 10.1907.

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No. 878,156. PATENTBD PEB. 4, 1908.

G. T. PRATT.

AUTOMOBILE RUN NING GEAR.

APPLIGATION FILED APRJO. 1907.

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AUTOMOBILE RUNNING-GEAR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 4, 1908.

Applicatioi'i'liled April 10| 1907. Serial No. 367308.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES T. PRATT, of Frankfort, in the county ofHerkimer and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Automobile Running-Gears; and I do hereby declare thatthe following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, whichwill enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make anduse the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and tothe letters of reference marked thereon, which form part of thisspecification.

The object of my present invention is to provide an improved runninggear for automobiles of that class which have six carrying wheelswherein pi'ovision is made for strength and flexibility, fortransmitting the power to the traction wheels without undue strain orfriction, for throwing additional weight on to the traction wheels whendesired and for steering four of the six wheels in an improved manner.

Other minor features of improvement are also incorporated as willhereinafter appear.

Figure 1 shows a plan view of the running gear. Fig. 2 shows asideelevation of the same. Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views ofa shackleconnection employed in the construction. Figs. 5 and 6 are detail viewsof a joint or connection employed in the frame. Fig. 7 is a sideelevation of one of the rear springs with details of its connection tothe lever on which it is supported. Fig. 8 is a plan view of what isshown in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a plan view of a portion of one of the rearsupporting levers, .together with additional 'features which enter intothe construction.

Fig. 10 shows three detail views of a base .or block on which the rearspring shown in Fig.

7 is directly mounted. Figs. 11. and 12 are.

details of a bearing employed in the rear axle. Fig. 1.3 is a detailview on an enlarged section showing the manner in which the power isapplied to propel the vehicle. Fig. 14 is a detail of a slide employedin the truck-frame shaft. Fig. 15 is a detail showing a front view of aportion of the intermediate axle with its joint for mounting the wheeland other details in the immediate vicinity. Fig. 16 is a plan view ofone of the front steering wheels with details of the constructionimmediately adjoining. Fig. 17 is a rear elevation of a portion of' thefront axle showing the'manner in which the steering wheel is mounted andother details immediately adjacent thereto or connected therewith. Fig.18 is a plan view of a portion of the rear axle in connection with awheel on the axle. Fig. 19 is a detail of one of the bearings on therear axle. f

Referring to the reference letters and figures in a more particulardescription, 1 indicates the side bars of the frame on which the body(not shown) is directly mounted. The body frame is carried at the frontend by half elliptical springs 2 which are mounted on the front axle 3on spring bases 23L provided on the front axle. The front axle isprovided with the usual knuckle 4 carryingthe bearing of the front wheel5 and a lever arm 6 for swinging the knuckle to steer the wheels and toprovide a means for connecting the wheels on the opposite sides togetherfor simultaneous movement by the rod 7. The rear end of the body frameis carried on half elliptical springs are supported by side levers 9.The levers 9 are'provided with a pocket 9? in which the spring baseblock 8 is received, and is pivotally mounted for a limited amount ofbackward and forward swinging movement on the end of shaft 1Q, whichpasses through the part 2a and through the levers 9 as well as throughthe spacing sleeve 9b. A bearing box 12 at the rear end the side lever 9receives or is mounted on the rear axle 13 which is tubular. The bearingbox 12 is arranged to receive the globular enlargement 13a of the rearaxle, which also is arranged on the axle and provides a flexible and toa limited extent universal joint or bearing as between the rear end ofthe side lever 9 and the rear axle. The box 12 is also allowed a limitedamount of lateral play with reference to the lever by having the flanges12"1L separated to a greater extent than the width of the clamps whichhold it.

The rear ground and traction wheels 14 are mounted at the outer ends ofthe rear axle 13 by being secured on the projecting ends of the shafts15, which extend through the tubular'rear axle and from substantiallythe middle line of the machine where they severally connect with thetransmission gearing 16, which is contained in a box-like enlargement13b of the rear axle. The forward ends of the levers 9 are droppeddownwardly and under the intermediate axle 17 to which they are flexiblyconnected by'a shackle 18 consisting of interlocking clevises engagingwith the axle and forward end of the side levers 9, respectively. Theaxle 17 is provided with the pivoted knuckle 19 which furnishes abearing for the intermediate ground wheel 20. The knuckle 19 is providedwith a fixed lever arm 21 by means of which the wheel 20 is steered.These steering arms 21 of the intermediate axle are connected with arms22 on the knuckles 4 of the front axle by connecting rods 23 and thelengths of 'the arms 21 and 22 are proportioned according to the lengthof the body, so that the wheels 5 and 20 will take .relatively properangles in steering or turning the vehicle. The front axle 3 and theintermediate axle 17 are connected adjacent to their outer ends byparallel reach rods 25, which rods at their rear ends are connected tothe axle 17 by the form of joint shown in Figs. 5 and 6, that is to say:the axle 17 is rovided with an ear 17a extending in a orizontal plane,which ear receives the forked rear end of the reach 25 and the pivotablepin 26 is passed through the two pieces. This allows a movement in ahorizontal plane and serves tohold the axle 17 a ainst a tendency torotate in conjunction with the wheel 20. The forward end of the reach 25is connected with the forward axle 3 by a ball and socket joint 27,which permits within certain limits a universal movement at this point.

The transmission gear case 13b constituting a portion of the reartubular axle, as before stated, is provided with an arm 30 whichprojects forwardly to and engages in a slotted opening 31 in the truckshaft 10, as more particularly shown in Figs. 13 and 14. There isprovided an intermediate sliding box or case 32 arranged in the opening31 to slide freely longitudinally in the opening 3'1, and the end of thecase 30 is made cylindrical to engage with the bearing 32 and to enablethe casing 30 to have a rotary movement in the box 32. The main drivingshaft 35 from the engine or motor is brought in through the tubular arm30 in which it would preferably have bearings at 30a and 30b and isprovided within the case 16 with the beveled gear pinion 36 engagingwith the transmission gear, which may be of any common form ofconstruction, the one shown consisting of the4 member 37 on one sectionof the shaft 15 and the member 38 on the other section of the shaft 15,each having beveled gear faces engaging with the ordinary planet gears39 and the member 37 having also a face of beveled gear teeth engagingwith the pinion 36.

1n order to enable additional weight to be thrown on to the tractionwheels 14 when desired, there is provided in the bodyvframe 1 supportedon a shaft 40 grooved pulleys 41. These pulleys are arranged nearlydirectly over the intermediate axle 17, and cables 42 are providedconnecting with this axlev and passing over the pulleys 41 to a point onthe forward portion of the frame where they are adapted to be wound onto a reeling shaft 43. A lever and catch 44 engaging with a ratchetwheel on the shaft 43 are provided by means of which the shaft can berotated and the cables 42 wound up and drawn tight.

45 is a pawl or catchJ ada ted to lock the shaft 43 against rotation anarranged to be disengaged by the foot. i

The spacing sleeves 9b of the side levers 9 are vadapted to engage attheir adjacent inner ends with the enlargement of the shaft 10, whichprovides the opening 31 whereby the levers 9 are held spaced againstinward movement and by a head or nut provided on the outer ends of theshaft 10 the levers 9 are held against separation laterally, and yetthese levers are free to vibrate independently in vertical planes eachrotating on the end shaft 10 as a pivot. It will be noted that there-action from the application of the driving power to the transmissiongear is taken on the shaft 10 and thence by the levers 9 in a mostdesirable manner, and while still providing for suflicient flexibilityin the truck which carries the rear end of the body frame:

The intermediate pair of wheels serve to prevent what is ordinarilytermed skidding, and it will be noted that in cases of necessity a largepart of the load which is ordinarily carried by the intermediate groundwheels can be temporarily thrown on to the traction wheels to secureadditional adhesion for traction purposes when required in difficultplaces.. The reach rods 25 serve to connect the forward and intermediateaxles and hold them at a definite distance apart, which gives strengthto the running gear as a whole and also enables the connecting rods 23of the steering mechanism to operate more satisfactorily in that thedistance between the front and intermediate axles is maintained uniform.The shackle 18, which connects the forward end of the side lever 9 withthe intermediate axle, permits such freedom of movement that inconnection with the globular bearing at the rear end of the side lever 9any one of the four wheels constituting the rear truck can be elevatedor depressed to a large degree without any straimng or binding in therear truck, or interference with the regular and proper operation 'ofthe propelling mechanism.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination in an automobile running gear of the frame and axleand pair of steerable ground wheels carrying one end of the frame, andpair of independent levers intermediately pivoted to the frame, an axleand pa1r of ground wheels carrying the rear ends of said levers and anaxle and steerable pair of ground wheels carrying the forward ends ofsaid levers and connected therewith by a suspending shackle all arrangedto carry the other end of the frame, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination in an automobile running gear of a frame and axle andpair of steerable ground wheels carrying the forward end, a pair ofindependent longitudinally arranged levers hinged at an intermediateoint to and supporting the rear end of the rame, an axle and groundwheels carrying the rear ends of said levers, an intermediate axle andsteerable ground wheels carrying the forward end of said levers, andparallel reach rods connecting the front and intermediate axles,substantially as set forth.

3. The combination in an automobile running gear of a frame, an axle andpair of steerable ground wheels carrying the forward. end, a pair oflongitudinally arranged side levers-on which the rear end of the frameis pivotally mounted, a transverse shaft arranged intermediate thelength of said levers on which said levers are pivotally mounted, a rearaxle on which the rear ends of said side levers are mounted, and anintermediate axle on which the forward end of said levers are mounted,an arm from the rear axleto said shaft and ground wheels provided onsaid rear and intermediate axles, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination in an automobile running gear of a body frame andmeans for carrying and steering ythe forward end, a truck carrying therear end consisting of a rear and intermediate axles and longitudinallyextending lside levers flexibly connected to the rear and intermediateaxles,a transverse connection between the said levers on which they arerespectively' pivoted, an arm from the rear axle to said transverseconnection, a pair of traction wheels provided on the rear axle and apair of steerable ground wheels provided on the intermediate axle, andmeans for applying power to the tractionwheels through the rear axle,substantially as set forth.

5. The combination in an automobile running gear of a body frame, aforward axle, a rear axle and an intermediate axle, steerable groundwheels provided on the forward and intermediate axles, reach rodsconnecting the forward and intermediate axles and steering rodsconnecting the forward steerable wheels with the intermediate steerablewheels, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination in an automobile running gear of a body frame, anaxle and pair of steerable ground wheels carrying the forward end, apair of longitudinally arranged side levers hinged to the frame andcarrying the rear end of the body, a rear axle and traction wheelssupporting the rear ends of said side levers, an intermediate axle andground wheels carrying the forward end of said levers, and adjustablemeans connecting the intermediate axle with the body whereby additionalweight may be thrown on to the traction wheels, substantially as setforth.

In witness whereof, I have afiixed my signature, in presence of twowitnesses, this 8th day of April 1907.

CHARLES T. PRATT.

Witnesses GEO. E. RENDELL, E. S. HEssE.

